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Sundance Institute and Women In Film Los Angeles Study Examines Gender Disparity in Independent Film

Study Finds More Women in Independent Film than Hollywood

Study Conducted by Stacy L. Smith, Ph.D., Katherine Pieper, Ph.D. and Marc Choueiti at
Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA — Keri Putnam, Executive Director, Sundance Institute, and Cathy Schulman, President, Women In Film Los Angeles, announced today the results of a first-of-its-kind research study examining gender disparity in American independent film. The study is part of a collaboration between Sundance Institute and Women In Film Los Angeles to support independent female filmmakers. Results were shared at a gathering of film and industry leaders at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

The study was commissioned by Sundance Institute and Women In Film Los Angeles and was conducted by Stacy L. Smith, Ph.D., Katherine Pieper, Ph.D. and Marc Choueiti at Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, University of Southern California.

Putnam said, “The results of this research are encouraging, and we hope they will highlight the barriers and opportunities facing women behind the camera. We look forward to collaborating with Women In Film Los Angeles and other allied organizations to raise awareness and inspire action around this important issue.”

Schulman said of the results, “This data shows us that there is a higher representation of female filmmakers in independent film as compared to Hollywood – but it also highlights the work that is still to be done for women to achieve equal footing in the field.”

The research was conducted with a two-prong approach. First, it quantitatively assessed the gender of 11,197 directors, writers, producers, cinematographers and editors in U.S. movies programmed for the Sundance Film Festival between 2002 and 2012 to identify the prevalence of female filmmakers. Second, researchers documented the qualitative experiences of female filmmakers through interviews with filmmakers and film industry representatives.

Findings include:

Of U.S. films selected for the Sundance Film Festival from 2002-2012, 29.8% of filmmakers (directors, writers, producers, cinematographers and editors) were female.
Across all behind-the-camera positions, females were most likely to be producers. As the prestige of the producing post increased, the percentage of female participation decreased. This trend was observed in both narrative and documentary filmmaking. Fewer than one third of all narrative producers but just over 40% of associate producers were female. In documentaries, 42.5% of producers and 59.5% of associate producers were female.
When compared to films directed by males, those directed by females feature more women filmmakers behind the camera (writers, producers, cinematographers, editors). This is true in both narratives (21% increase) and documentaries (24% increase).
Females were half as likely to be directors of narrative films than documentaries (16.9% vs. 34.5%).
Female directors of Sundance Film Festival films exceed those of the top 100 box office films. 23.9% of directors at the Sundance Film Festival from 2002-2012 were female, compared to 4.4% of directors across the top 100 box office films each year from 2002 to 2012 that were female.
41.5% of the female directors across 1,100 top-grossing movies of the past ten years had been supported by Sundance Institute.
Five major areas were identified as hampering women’s career development in film:
Gendered financial barriers (43.1%)
Male-dominated industry networking (39.2%)
Stereotyping on set (15.7%)
Work and family balance (19.6%)
Exclusionary hiring decisions (13.7%)
Opportunities exist to improve the situation for women in independent film. Individuals mentioned three key ways to change the status quo:
Mentoring and encouragement for early career women (36.7%)
Improving access to finance (26.5%)
Raising awareness of the problem (20.4%)

The first initiative of the Sundance Institute and Women In Film Los Angeles collaboration, which began in January 2012, was to create a Mentorship Program, matching 17 Sundance Institute-supported women directors and producers with leaders in the field. Sundance Institute and Women In Film Los Angeles also convened meetings in New York and Los Angeles this fall with leading organizations working on gender in media. These Allied Organizations will be involved in and lend counsel to the project, and include: AFI; Alliance of Women Directors; Women in Film New York; Athena Film Festival / Women & Hollywood; Chapman University; Chicken & Egg; Film Independent; Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media; IFP; Impact Partners Women’s Fund; Loreen Arbus Foundation; Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting, NYC; Paley Center for Media; PGA; Tangerine; UCLA; USC; Women Make Movies; Women Moving Millions; and Women’s Media Center.

The Sundance Institute and Women In Film Los Angeles collaboration is supported by LUNA and JPMorgan Chase Foundation.

Sundance Institute
Sundance Institute is a global nonprofit organization founded by Robert Redford in 1981. Through its artistic development programs for directors, screenwriters, producers, composers and playwrights, the Institute seeks to discover and support independent film and theatre artists from the United States and around the world, and to introduce audiences to their new work. The Institute promotes independent storytelling to inform, inspire, and unite diverse populations around the globe. Internationally recognized for its annual Sundance Film Festival, Sundance Institute has nurtured such projects as Born into Brothels, Trouble the Water, Son of Babylon, Amreeka, An Inconvenient Truth, Spring Awakening, I Am My Own Wife, Light in the Piazza and Angels in America. Join Sundance Institute on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Women In Film
Women In Film is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping women achieve their highest potential within the global entertainment, communication and media industries and to preserving the legacy of women within those industries. Founded in 1973, Women In Film and its Women In Film Foundation provide for members an extensive network of contacts, educational programs, scholarships, film finishing funds and grants, access to employment opportunities, mentorships and numerous practical services in support of this mission. www.wif.org

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles (BAFTA Los Angeles) celebrated the 2013 Awards Season with their annual BAFTA Los Angeles Awards Season Tea Party on Saturday, January 12, 2013 at The Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. The BAFTA Los Angeles Awards Season Tea Party is one of the most prestigious events in the annual awards calendar, celebrating and wishing the best of luck to all nominees for the awards season ahead.

As well as honoring the year’s nominees and winners, the Tea Party also included a silent auction to raise funds and awareness for the BAFTA LA Community Outreach and Philanthropic programs including the Heritage Archive and Inner City Cinema programs. Awards Season Nominees along with Leading executives, British celebrities and BAFTA members enjoyed traditionally British tea and scones, and cocktails at the uniquely British Tea Party.

BAFTA Los Angeles Awards Season Tea Party sponsors included Audi, The Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, BBC AMERICA and Champagne Taittinger.

Former Hollywood bad boy and Lauren Conrad’s ex Jason Wahler is officially off the market as he’s now engaged to model Ashley Slack.

Wahler posted a photo of his fiancee’s ring on Instagram, with the message “Love you babe!

Wahler, who gained popularity for his bad boy image on MTV’s Laguna Beach and The Hills, popped the question in November of Last year and his girlfriend said yes..

Wahler’s bride-to-be confirmed the news on her Facebook page, telling her followers:

“I said yes!!! I am the happiest girl in the whole wide world and I can not wait to spend the rest of my life with my best friend. — with Jason Wahler.” Later adding, “It’s official! 10-12-13 I will be Mrs. Wahler wooohoooo!!!!!”

High school senior Carson Phillips (Chris Colfer) was destined for bigger things than his close-minded small town could ever offer. He was on a path to greatness, but destiny had a different plan when he was suddenly killed by a bolt of lightning in his school parking lot.

Demonstrating that life is what happens while you’re busy planning your future, Carson recounts the last few weeks of his life via witty, insightful flashbacks, including a blackmail scheme targeting the popular kids in school that he concocts with his best friend (Rebel Wilson, BRIDESMAIDS), and a home life that includes a mother (Allison Janney, JUNO, “The West Wing”) who’s more interested in the bottle than her son’s future and an estranged father (Dermot Mulroney, MY BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING) who suddenly appears with a pregnant fiancée (Christina Hendricks, “Mad Men”).

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Tribeca Film Release: STRUCK BY LIGHTNING
National Premiere across the country January 6, 2013,
OPENING LIMITED Friday, January 11th

Nominations for the 85th Academy Awards® will be announced by the show’s host, Seth MacFarlane, and actress Emma Stone on Thursday, January 10. This will be the first time since 1972 that an Oscar show host has participated in the nominations announcement.

MacFarlane and Stone will unveil the nominations at a 5:30 a.m. PT news conference at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, where hundreds of media representatives from around the world will be gathered.

Since the first nominations announcement in 1964, the Academy president has been joined by one or more co-announcers at the event. This year the Academy will break with tradition when MacFarlane, who was named Oscar show host in October, joins Stone on Oscar nominations morning. Charlton Heston (1972) was the only other show host to participate in the nominations announcement.

Stone starred in the 2011 Best Picture nominee “The Help” and the summer release “The Amazing Spider-Man.” Her other film credits include “Superbad,” “Zombieland,” “Easy A” and “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” Stone will be seen in “Gangster Squad” later this month and in “The Croods,” due out in March.

Nominations information for all categories will be distributed to news media in attendance and via the Internet on the official Academy Awards website, www.oscar.com.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2012 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, February 24, 2013, at the Dolby Theatre™ at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

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ABOUT THE ACADEMY
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world’s preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards–in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners–Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.

Kicking off the 2013 Awards Season, The 24th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) Awards Gala, presented by Cartier, was held Saturday, January 5, 2013 at the Palm Springs Convention Center hosted by Mary Hart. Honorees were presented with an original Chihuly Glass Sculpture designed by Dale Chihuly or the John Kennedy “The Entertainer” statue. The event was sponsored by Mercedes-Benz and Entertainment Tonight.

The Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala honors individuals in the entertainment industry with several prestigious awards for acting, director, achievement in film scoring and life achievement. The following awards were presented at this year’s Awards Gala:

* Argo (Ben Affleck, Alan Arkin, Bryan Cranston) received the Ensemble Performance Award presented by Tony Mendez.
* Bradley Cooper received the Desert Palm Achievement Award Actor for Silver Linings Playbook presented by the film’s director David O. Russell.
* Helen Hunt received the Spotlight Award for The Sessions presented by her co-star John Hawkes.
* Helen Mirren received the International Star Award for Hitchcock presented by Tom Hooper, who directed her in Elizabeth I.
* Mychael Danna received the Frederick Loewe Award for Film Composing for Life of Pi presented Ang Lee.
* Naomi Watts received the Desert Palm Achievement Award Actress for The Impossible presented by her co-star in the film Tom Holland.
* Richard Gere received the Chairman’s Award for Arbitrage presented by his The Cotton Club, Nights in Rodanthe and Unfaithful co-star Diane Lane.
* Robert Zemeckis received the Director of the Year Award for Flight presented by Tom Hanks who he directed in Castaway, Forrest Gump, and Polar Express.
* Sally Field (Lincoln) received the Career Achievement Award presented by her The Amazing Spider-Man co-star Martin Sheen.
* Tom Hooper received the Sonny Bono Visionary Award for Les Misérables presented by the film’s co-star Eddie Redmayne.

Following the ceremony an after party was held at the Parker Palm Springs where Bradley Cooper, Sally Field, John Hawkes, Tom Hooper, Eddie Redmayne, David O. Russell, Naomi Watts and many others were in attendance.

PREMIERE SCREENING OF FX’s JUSTIFIED SEASON 4 held Saturday, January 5, 2013 at Paramount Theatre, Paramount Studios in Hollywood,CA, United States. In attendance were ; Timothy Olyphant, Nick Searcy, Joelle Carter, Jacobs Pitts, Erica Tazel, Walton Goggins, Natalie Zea, Graham Yost, Jim Beaver, Robert Baker, Casey Brown, Joe Mazzello, Raymond Barry, Patton Oswalt, David Meunier, Abby Miller, Lindsay Pulsipher, Shelby Malone, Daniela Bobadilla
In Season 4, Raylan will start to pick at the thread of a cold case over 30 years in the making, unraveling a riddle that echoes all the way back to his boyhood and his criminal father’s bad dealings. Meanwhile Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins) finds his grip on Harlan loosening due to a Pentecostal preacher with a penchant for theatrics and a knack for manipulation to rival his own.

The series co-stars Walton Goggins as ‘Boyd Crowder;’ Nick Searcy as Givens’ longtime friend and boss ‘Chief Deputy Art Mullen;’ Jacob Pitts as ‘Deputy Marshal Tim Gutterson;’ Erica Tazel as ‘Deputy Marshal Rachel Brooks;’ and Joelle Carter as ‘Ava Crowder.’ Yost wrote the pilot and serves as Executive Producer/Writer on the series. Leonard is also an Executive Producer on the series along with Carl Beverly, Sarah Timberman and Fred Golan. Justified is produced by Sony Pictures Television and FX Productions.

Universal City, California – The countdown to 2013 begins at Universal CityWalk® as The Entertainment Capital of LASM prepares to ring in the new year in one of Southern California’s most festive New Year’s Eve celebrations featuring dazzling fireworks, colorful confetti and non-stop live entertainment at four stage locations.
Throughout Universal CityWalk the energy will resonate with a series of live concerts and DJ performances, which will crescendo to the midnight New Year’s Eve countdown, punctuated by the fireworks and confetti.
Live entertainment will bookend CityWalk, as the state-of-the-art “5 Towers” venue hosts concert performances from Jamar Rogers and Diego Val, stand-out stars from “The Voice,” while celebrity DJ Roonie G, flanked by high-energy dancers, will amp the crowd with his signature mash-up style in the theme park’s entrance plaza.
The popular New Year’s Eve destination has also expanded to include two specially-designated areas within the Universal Studios HollywoodSM theme park to provide partygoers with even more access to the revelries. At the “WaterWorld®” attraction, a stadium-style arena will provide family-friendly entertainment including balloon artists, live DJs and the midnight fireworks show, while at The Blues Brothers’ stage a world-class DJ will also spin live sets to enthusiastic partygoers.
The celebration will kick off at 9:00 p.m. PT, when guests are treated to a live feed of the iconic New York City Times Square ball drop displayed on giant outdoor screens. At the stroke of midnight, three simultaneous firework shows and thousands of pounds of confetti will cascade above the crowd.
Revelers can also take advantage of a variety of New Year’s Eve packages and special offers available at CityWalk’s popular hot spots including, the Jon Lovitz Comedy Club, Infusion Lounge, Samba Brazilian Steakhouse and Lounge, Howl at the Moon, Jillian’s Hi-Life Lanes, Hard Rock Café, Karl Strauss Brewing Company, Wolfgang Puck LA Bistro and Saddle Ranch Chop House.
Beginning at 4:00 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, special event admission pricing will go into effect for patrons visiting Universal CityWalk via shuttle, drop-off and walk-ups, as well as for self-parking and valet parking services. More information is available at www.CityWalkHollywood.com. Regular updates can also be found on CityWalk’s Twitter @CityWalkLA, Facebook-Universal CityWalk Hollywood and on CityWalk’s newly launched Instagram @CityWalkLA. Universal CityWalk is Southern California’s dynamic entertainment, dining and shopping destination that reflects the area’s rich cultural diversity. The iconic open-air leisure and nightlife complex provides “Always Unexpected” entertainment options and has served as a prototype for similar destinations. Universal CityWalk includes the new high-tech concert venue, “5 Towers,” provides L.A.’s best movie-going experience at the AMC Universal CityWalk cinemas and offers such unique venues as the “Jon Lovitz Comedy Club,” the “Infusion Lounge,” iFly indoor skydiving and mechanical bull-riding at “Saddle Ranch Chop House.”
Universal Studios Hollywood, The Entertainment Capital of L.A., includes a full-day, movie-based theme park and Studio Tour; the CityWalk entertainment, shopping and dining complex, the AMC Universal CityWalk cinemas, the “5 Towers” state-of-the-art outdoor concert venue, and the Gibson Amphitheatre concert and special event arena. World-class rides and attractions include the intense, award-winning ride, “King Kong 360 3-D” on the famed behind-the-scenes Studio Tour, “The Simpsons RideTM,” “Revenge of the MummySM—The Ride” indoor roller coaster and “Jurassic Park® —The Ride,” as well as the critically acclaimed mega-attraction, “Transformers™: The Ride—3D.”

The Film Independent Spirit Awards will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2012 in the afternoon in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica and will be hosted by Andy Samberg. The premiere broadcast of the ceremony will air later that evening at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on IFC.

Media & Publicist Credential Applications are now available on www.spiritawards.com.

ABOUT THE FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS

Now in its 28th year, the Film Independent Spirit Awards is an annual celebration honoring artist-driven films

made with an economy of means by filmmakers who embody independence and originality. The Spirit Awards recognizes the achievements of American independent filmmakers and promotes the finest independent films of the year to a wider audience.

Awards are given in the following categories: Best Feature, Best First Feature, Best First Screenplay, Best Director, Best Screenplay, John Cassavetes Award (given to the best feature made for a budget under $500,000), Best Male Lead, Best Female Lead, Best Supporting Male, Best Supporting Female, Best Cinematography, Best International Film, Best Documentary, and the Robert Altman Award. The Filmmaker Grants include the Someone to Watch Award, Stella Artois Truer Than Fiction Award, Piaget Producers Award and Jameson FIND Your Audience Award.

ABOUT FILM INDEPENDENT

Film Independent is a non-profit arts organization that champions independent film and supports a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation, and uniqueness of vision. Film Independent helps filmmakers make their movies, builds an audience for their projects, and works to diversify the film industry. Film Independent’s Board of Directors, filmmakers, staff, and constituents, is comprised of an inclusive community of individuals across ability, age, ethnicity, gender, race, and sexual orientation. Anyone passionate about film can become a member, whether you are a filmmaker, industry professional, or a film lover.

Film Independent produces the Spirit Awards, the annual celebration honoring artist-driven films and recognizing the finest achievements of American independent filmmakers. Film Independent also produces the Los Angeles Film Festival, showcasing the best of American and international cinema and the Film Independent at LACMA Film Series, a year-round, weekly program that offers unique cinematic experiences for the Los Angeles creative community and the general public.

With over 250 annual screenings and events, Film Independent provides access to a network of like-minded artists who are driving creativity in the film industry. Film Independent’s Artist Development program offers free Labs for selected writers, directors, producers and documentary filmmakers and presents year-round networking opportunities. Project Involve is Film Independent’s signature program dedicated to fostering the careers of talented filmmakers from communities traditionally underrepresented in the film industry.

For more information or to become a member, visit FilmIndependent.org.